Happy New Year.

A happy new year to everyone. Here's hoping it will be a better one for the Eden and the Association. At present there has been no further news regarding the category 3 status. If we receive any update we will publish it as soon as possible.

THE EDEN, DROUGHT AND WATER ABSTRACTION.

A local area group, headed by Dr. Andrew Black of St. Andrews University, are looking into drought and it's effects on the river Eden environment. Anyone wishing to attend a public meeting on the subject please see below

  1.  
  1. Public meeting on Sat 20th Jan from 9.30, Lomond Hills Hotel, Freuchie - focus on the effects of climate change on farming and the wider environment in the Eden catchment . Registration link & further details here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-change-agriculture-in-ne-fife-tickets-41887744371

I would imagine that entry would be possible on the day, but please use the link to gauge response.

2017 AGM NEWS

The secretary would like to thank all those that attended the meeting. Considering the size of the membership the attendance was disappointingly low. The main point of interest for the members was the decision to keep ticket prices the same as last year. The following report was given to the meeting by the secretary.

 

SEASON 2018 CATEGORY 3 STATUS.

The secretary was unhappy to report that Marine Scotland had given the Eden a category 3 status for the 2018 season. On behalf of the membership he had appealed this decision. He understood that other appeals had been lodged on our behalf including an appeal by the TDS FB. Whether these appeals are successful remains to be seen but as yet Marine Scotland have not produced any reliable scientific data to back the decision to make the Eden a category 3 River.

 

ANNUAL CATCH RETURNS.

The secretary reported that once again the annual catch returns were poor. There has been encouraging use of the catch return form on the website but the majority of members did not send in their annual catch return. Without this information it is very difficult to assess the actual health of the River. At this point in time, it would appear that the salmon and finnock catch would be down from last year’s figure.

RIVER CONDITION.

Several members including the secretary had noticed that there was no weed growing in the River below Springfield. This could have a catastrophic effect on the ecology of the River. The lack of weed meant that there was little or no cover for the fish and left them wide open to predators. The whole ecology of the River was in jeopardy. The secretary had contacted SNH, the TDSFB and SEPA. None of these government agencies offered any practical help. After contacting the local MSP, SEPA agreed to investigate the situation with an ecology unit. As yet the secretary has not received any reports on their findings.

TDSFB.

The secretary had attended several of the Tay board committee meetings over the year. He hoped to highlight the River Eden and its ongoing problems. So far the board will not commit to taking salmon from the Eden for breeding purposes nor did they seem particularly interested in this year’s problem of all the weed dying out. They had conducted a survey of juvenile salmon in 2016 and 2017 however none of the data from these surveys has been made available to the Association. The secretary intends to attend that the Tay board AGM to raise points on behalf of the Association.

NOTICE OF AGM.


The AGM will be held on Sunday 3rd. of December in Pitlessie village hall at 7.30 pm. Please make sure all proposals reach the secretary by the 19th November.
Please send your catch return to the secretary before the end of November. You can use the CATCH RETURN button at the top of the website.

Ian Young (secretary)

CATCH RETURNS.

Please make sure that all catch returns, (including nil returns) are sent to the secretary before the end of November. You can use the CATCH RETURN button at the top of the website. Alternatively you can post them or email them. It is absolutely essential we receive as many returns as possible.

The AGM will probably be held on the first Sunday in December. This will be confirmed soon.

URGENT UPDATE FOR THE 2018 SEASON.

Marine Scotland have announced that for the 2018 season the Eden will be classed as a category 3 river. This means that you cannot take a fish for the table. You can still fish for salmon but they have to be released. Our association successfully fought to have the Eden made category 2 and we must do so again. I would urge every member to write or email Marine Scotland at the address below, lodging your objection to them reclassifying the Eden.

Keith Main/Tom Hogg

Marine Scotland

Salmon and Recreational Fisheries Team

Area 1B North

Victoria Quay

Edinburgh

EH6 6QQ

 

Email: salmonandrecreationalfisheries@gov.scot

  Marine Scotland have no sound scientific evidence to base this decision on. To my knowledge they have never visited the river.

Please make sure your objections are made before 13th of October.

River Update.

This has been a difficult year for brown trout fishing. The lack of in river weed from Springfield downstream means that the trout have nowhere to hide and an easy meal for predators. The weed situation is being looked at by SEPA, but as yet they have not given a reason for this serious problem. The best of the brown trout fishing is still in the Pitlessie area.

Salmon and sea trout have started to run into the lower river with a couple of salmon being hooked and lost. Some good sea trout have been caught around the Pooch area but the estuary has been pretty patchy this year.

 

River Update

At long last we are getting some much needed rain. Hopefully this will encourage some sea trout into the river although there doesn't appear to be many in the estuary at the moment.

The best of the brown trout fishing is in the Pitlessie area where there is good cover and feeding for the trout. Below Springfield there is little or no weed in the river. This is very worrying as it points to a problem in the ecosystem. It impacts on fly life and habitat for trout as they have no cover from predators. We are working with SNH to try and identify the problem and come up with a solution.

Good News

Next season the Eden will be a category 2 river. This means that we will, once again, be allowed to take salmon. The Eden was one of only 5 rivers to be upgraded. This was due, in no small part, to the efforts and lobbying conducted by the E.A.A. All anglers are reminded that the association has a bag limit as part of our bye laws.

2016 AGM ROUNDUP.

Thanks go to all that attended the meeting. The main points of the meeting are as follows.

The officials and committee remain the same.

Ticket prices remain the same.

The river will not be restocked with brown trout this year.

Robert Young was made an honorary life member.

Neil Glachan won the Stan Reid Cup.

Mr. J. Hall won a free permit in the catch returns prize draw.

2016 AGM

The 2016 AGM will be held at Pitlessie village Hall on Sunday, 4 December at 7:30 PM. All proposals must be sent to the secretary no later than 20 November.
This is your chance as a member to air your views on how the Association is run. The committee and officials will always welcome constructive and practical ideas.

END OF SEASON ROUNDUP

The 2016 season will probably be one to forget. River conditions for most of the year were pretty poor with the River at a summer low for most of the season. The sea trout fishing was a bit patchy but there were some good catches recorded. A seven pounder caught on the fly was one notable achievement.
The Brown trout, as ever, gave some good sport, although they also proved difficult to locate at times and to tempt. As yet we are not sure what the stocking policy will be next year. There seems to be plenty of juvenile fish in the River at the moment.
 With the total ban on killing salmon, not many anglers fished for them, and even fewer were caught.The constantly low water kept most of the salmon in the lower reaches of the River. A small spate in the last fortnight allowed a few fish to run upstream, but most congregated below Dairsie bridge where they quickly coloured up and became very difficult to catch.With a bit of luck, next year when we revert to a category two River, things will improve. We can only hope for a decent wet September and October.

Please make sure that all catch returns reach the secretary the for the end of December. Never before has it been so vital to have accurate catch returns even if they are nil returns.

Useful Links

Car Parking & Permit Sales LocationsMap